Machine for forming tortillas and the like



Jan. 19, 1954 A. J. PEREYRA MACHINE FOR FORMING TORTILLAS AND THE LIKE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1949 I/v wwvrm: Armando J1?? B ATTORIVVEY.

Jan. 19, 1954 A. J. PEREYRA MACHINE FOR FORMING TORTILLAS AND THE LIKEFiled March 25, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a m y p w m? k u mJ m m y [r W, m4? Q I n l 1 4 w .Q a m w w w 0 M 4 j. u n w m L n E E Z w w mm mm i J JZ w w a 1954 A. J. PEREYRA MACHINE FOR FORMING TORTILLAS AND THE LIKE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1949 I l I I l I IIIIFIIII.

I/v VE'N TOR.

Armando J em yrw,

1954 A. J. PEREYRA 2,666,399

MACHINE FOR FORMING TORTILLAS AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: Armando JR]? 1w, BY

ATTOR/Vf).

Jan. 19, 1954 A. J. PEREYRA 2,666,399

MACHINE FOR FORMING TORTILLAS AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 5 mi g lllu F I INVENTOR Armando J. Pereyro ATTORNEYPatented Jan. 19, 1954 GFFEQE MACHINE FOR FORMEN G TORTILLAS AND THELIKE Armando J. Pereyra, Bremerton, Wash.

Application March 25, 1949, Serial No. 83,342

9 Claims. (01. 107-12) This invention relates to dough rolling andcutting machines, and more particularly to an improved machine forrolling dough out flat and cutting the rolled dough into suitable shapefor producing tortillas, pan cakes and the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a dough rolling andcutting machine of the character stated which may be readily broken downfor cleaning or repairing the same, or set up in position for use,without the use of tools.

A more particular object is to provide a dough rolling and cuttingmachine of the character stated including a pair of roller supportingframes fulcrumed on a common center, and constructed and arranged to beswung on said fulcrum to permit (a) ready removal and replacement of thedough cutter, (b) easy breakdown or setting up of the machine withoutthe use of tools, full access to the dough stripper elements forreplacement thereof, (d) easy removal of the discharge conveyor belt forcleaning or replacement thereof, and (6) spring action by the co-actingdough roller against the dough cutter.

Another object is to provide a dough rolling and cutting machine of thecharacter stated including an improved hopper unit constructed andarranged to serve (a) asthe hopper for the dough, (b) as a gear cover,(0) as an adjusting means for controlling the thickness of the rolleddough, (d) as a means for permitting prompt release and separation ofthe dough rollers in an emergency, and (e) as a means for maintaining asdesired the same adjustment of the thickness of the rolled dough.

A further object is to provide a dough rolling and cutting machine ofthe character stated including improved conveyor belt roller supportingarms for permitting prompt breakdown of the belt assembly without theuse of tools for cleaning or replacement of the belt, and permittingready adjustment of the belt tension or alignment of the belt.

Other objects and advantages'will appear hereinafter as thespecification progresses.

The presently preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theannexed drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of my invention taken on line ofFig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my invention partly broken away to showcertain features of construction.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine of my invention.

2 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of my invention with the doughhopper together with the left-hand frame (as seen in Fig. 3) removed,

and showing the front dough roller frame (and dough rollers) swung apartto permit removal of the upper conveyor roller, which shown re movedfrom the machine.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the front dough roller frameand dough roller removed from the machine and the back dough rollerframe and dough roller swung into their unlocked position to be removedfrom the machine, and to permit removal of the cutter roller, which isshown in dotted lines lifted from the machine;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the fulcrumbearing of the doughroller frames and upper conveyor roller bearing, taken on line iit ofFig. 1, and showing said frames and upper conveyor roller lockedtogether in their normal operative positions.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the butt end of one of the armssupporting one end of a delivery belt.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of a bearing boss on one side of themachine base, and Fig. 9- is a similar view of a corresponding boss onthe opposite side of the base on which front and back roller frames areiournalled. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail showing stripper wire tensioning means mounted on the left side (as seen in Fig. 2) of the frontroller frame.

Figs. 11-13 inclusive are side elevation, plan and end elevation views,respectively, cf the cutter.

In the drawings the numeral it indicates the left hand base side plateand i2 the right hand base side plate of the machine. As shown in Fig. 2each side plate is provided with a wide peripheral flange Hi0. lZaaround the rear and lower edge, the latter portion of the flangesaffording footing for the side plates. The plates are assembled to forma base by being held spaced in parallel alignment by a front tie rod Hiand rear tie rod it, the rods being threaded at their ends and havingnuts Ma, lea threaded thereon gripping the side walls between them.

The base plates are of identical arrangement, each having a centralopening surrounded by a flange l8 and 261 respectively projecting to theleft (as seen in Fig, 2), bearing recesses 22 in the top edge of theplates, and with hearing bosses 2t, 28 projecting to the left. Thebearing bosses are lotted downwards for a distance to provide bearings3t, 32. The outer surfaces of bosses 2t, 28

form journal bearings for parts, later described, "h? are removably heldagainst sideways displacement by radially proiecting lugs 30a, 32a"ositione'l at the outer side of the bosses. On the left face of eachplate (as seen in Fig. 2) horizontal ridges 34, 36 are providedterminating in end faces 34a, 36a, and oppositely extending lugs it areprovided at the forward edge of the plates at a lower level than theridges. The operating shaft t2 is supported in the bearing recesses 33,32 in each of the bosses. While the shaft may be rotated by power, Ihave shown a hand crank is mounted on one end of the shaft by which theshaft 42 may be turned by the operator. On shaft 42 a roller 46 issecured between the end plates in any suitable manner, and a drivinggear 36 is pinned or otherwise secured to the other end of the shaftwhich projects be yond the side plate I2. It will be noted that shaft 42is held in the bearing recesses 39 and 32 only by the cooperation ofremovable parts later described. A pair of arms 50, 52 are fitted to theside plates and project forwardly. The arms are each slotted in avertical direction as indicated at 3 in Fig. '7 and the inner walls ofthe slot channeled as shown at 56. The vertical slot 5 3 is designed toenable the butt end of the arms to fit closely on the forward part ofthe side walls, and channels as fit closely over laterally projectinglugs as and as, which are admitted through vertical channels 38a. Whenpushed home the butt end of the arms is held against vertical movementby engagement of the portion of each arm extending between the lugs andunder surface of projecting ridges 34, 36. The forward ends of the armsare drilled to receive the ends of a length of rod 58. A conveyor belt553 is mounted on roller 46 which is preferably tapered from its centertoward its ends to center the belt and rod '58. Belt 60 is, therefore,rotated by rotation of crank M. If preferred a roller may be mounted onrod 58 to carry the forward end of the conveyor belt. The arms 50, 52are moved forwardly to tension the belt 88 by thumb screws 82 working inthreaded bores in the flanges l8 and Eli with their heads in theopenings in the side plates and their ends engaging against the ends ofthe arms. The action of the screws will force the arms forward slightlyas shown in Fig. 1, thus moving the vertical channels 3811 out ofalignment with lugs 35 and 40.

A front roller frame, generally indicated at 64,-

is journalled on bosses 25, 9.8 in the manner hereinafter described. Theframe comprises two side plates 65, as held rigidly in parallel relationby a tie and spacing bar 1%, the ends of which are threaded to receivenuts ita clamping the front frame side plates between them. Bosses '52,M are cast with the plates 66, 38 and drilled to provicle bearings for ashaft is on which a front roll l8 is secured for rotation between theside plates 6%, es. Preferably, the bosses are slotted vertically asindicated. at 52c and Ma to enable the shaft to be oiled. The right handend of shaft 15 projects beyond the side plate 68 and a wide-faced gear88 is secured on the projecting end of the shaft and meshes with gear 38on driving shaft 42.

The side plates of the front frame 64 are extended downwardly to provideopen supporting rings or bearings 82, 83 adapted to fit over theperiphery of bosses 23, 28 projecting from the base plates. The bearings82 and 83 are slotted as indicated at 83a (Figs. 1 and 4) to enable themto be slid sideways onto the bosses, the slots 83c enabling lugs 59a,32a to be passed with the front frame 64 tilted forwardly but when thefront frame is raised to operative position. the lugs 30a, 32a, willprevent the frame from moving on the bearing bosses 26, 23.

The open supporting rings 82, 83 are also provided with projecting lugs84, 86 drilled and threaded to receive thumb screws a which when screwedinwardly will abut the surfaces E ia, 36a at the forward ends of thehorizontal projecting ridges 34, 36 on the base side piates and hold thefront frame in operative position. When thumb screws S te, 850:, whichserve to lock the frame 64. in operating position, are slackenecl back,the front frame be rotated forwardly. When tightened against members S tand 36 the tension of the front roller against the cutter 138 may beset.The side plates of the front frame 64 are provided with upwardextensions 83, the purpose of which will be later explained.

The front roll is is provided with wide but shallow peripheral grooves18a toward each end and rings as of strip material are mounted looselyin the grooves but are held in position by the walls of the grooves. Adough loosening and product removing wire 92 is arranged under tensionto lie against the face of the front roller as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the wire passing under rings as. The wire is secured at one end by aclamp, or as shown in Fig. 10, by being attached to a pin 94 carried onbrackets secured to side plate 68 and tensioned by a shaft 96 drilled toreceive the other end of the wire and mounted in flanges 98 projectingoutwardly from plate 66 of the front frame. A pinion gear ital ismounted on the shaft. A worm shaft H82 is mounted on a small bracket Isecured to the flange 58, the worm ltZa on shaft 582 meshing with thepinion gear, and is provided with a hey we (Fig. 2) by which the shaft802 and shaft es may be rotated to tension the wire as, the settingbeing retained because of the irreversible characteristic of a worm andpinion drive.

Thumb screws 8 3a, 2260. control the position of the front roller only,locking it in osition against the cutter and permitting adjustment ofthe tension of this roller against the cutter. The position of the rearroller is controlled by the adjusting screws M8 on the hopper which whentightened draw the rear roller frame, by the engagement of the hoppertherewith, and rear roller closer to the front roller. The rear rollerremains otherwise free to rotate backward for a distanceof about oneinch away from the front roller when the hopper is lifted or theadjusting screws Hi8 are slackened.

A rear roller frame generally indicated at it?) is arranged similarly tothe front roller frame comprising side plates 1 iii and H2 held inspaced parallel relation by a tie and spacing bar l M provided withthreaded ends on which are mounted nuts 5 Ma clamping the side platesbetween them. A back roller lie is secured to a shaft H3 mounted inbearing bosses cast on the side plates. The plates I iii, I 52 areextended downwardly and provided with annular bearings E20 (Fig. 3) l2!(Fig. 5) similar to the bearings of the front frame and also fitting onthe bearing bosses 26, 28 side by side with the front frame bearings.Bearings 20, lZi are slotted radially, as indicated at mm (Fig. 5), toenable the bearings to be pushed sideways onto the bosses past lugs Zitaand 32a. A back roller scraper wire are is held under tension againstthe forward face of the roller by mounting and tensioning means similarto those shown for the front roller scraper wire and therefore it is notthought necessary to illustrate said means. A gear MI is fixed on theend of the shaft projecting through the right-hand side (as seen in Fig.3) of the back roller frame. This gear meshes with gear 39 on frontroller shaft "I6 when in operating position. The rear roller frame isprovided with upward extensions I28 for a purpose later explained.

A rotary cutter generally indicated at I39 is mounted on a shaft I 32supported in bearings 22 and retained therein when the machine is inoperative position by engagement with front roll 18 (which bears againstthe cutter) with a pressure which is effective to hold the shaft I32seated in bearings 22. While I may of course arrange the rotary cutterto which I lay no claim per so as a roller with raised cutting or doughdividing ridges projecting from the periphery thereof, I prefer to formthe cutter as an accurate casting consisting of the cutting element I34supported by arm I36 extending from bushing I36 secured to the shaft I32by set screw MB. The form of the cutting edge of element 534 is ofcourse that of a circle bent so that all points thereof are equidistantfrom the axis of shaft I32. A gear I2? is secured to therighthand end(as seen in Fig. 2) of shaft I32 which projects beyond side plate I2 ofthe base and meshes with gear 80 on front roller shaft Iii.

The construction of a typical cutter is shown in Romero, 1,763,445, Fig.3.

A dough hopper I42 is arranged to serve sev eral purposes besides itsprimary use of holding dough in position over rollers f3 and l I6,aswill appear.

The hopper may be formed as a single casting with inwardly sloping wallsand with the sides curved to cover the edges of the rollers. A lateralextension or hood I 44 is arranged at one side to protect the gearingdriving the rotating parts of the machine.

In the wall of the hopper facing the upward projections 88 of the frontroller frame, thumb screws I 48 are mounted in threaded holes drilledthrough the wall and the ends of the thumb screws are brought intoengagement with the upward extensions 88 to adjust the spacing bu tweenthe front and back rolls. The hopper M2 is mounted withoutanyrestraining means on the machine, the weight of the hopper being takenby the top surface ends of front roller I8 and back roller I It by meansof the hopper bearing ribs I50 and I52. The described construc tion andarrangement of the hopper enables it to be removed merely by lifting theforward end upwardly so that the ends of screws I43 slip ofi thevertical face of upward extensions 88 which are sloped sharply away fromthe vertical faces of the extensions, toward their upper ends asindicated at 88c, Figure 1 whereupon the back roller frame is free tomove away from 'the front roller frame by backward rotation of the backroller frame about the bearing bosses 25, 28 to the extent permitted bythe distance between the lower edges of back roller frame I38 and shaftI32 in recess 22. It will be evident that the instant release ofpressure between the rollers obtained by thus elevating the ends of Ithumb screws I48 into the cutaways 88a of the upward projections 88provides an important safety feature enabling the rollers to be releasedfrom any object caught therein which otherwise might be dragged betweentherollers and cause damage to the machine.

Operation Assuming that it is desired to make Mexican tortillas, whichare fiat thin cakes, the front roller is locked in position against thecutter and the tension between the two adjustedby turning the lockingscrews 88a, tea, the distance between the front and back rollers isadjusted by turning screws I 48 after which a batch of mixed dough isplaced in the hopper and when the crank 44 is turned, the dough will bedrawn between the front and back rollers. The usual stripping device inthe embodiment shown, a wire tensioned across the face of the backroller, is effective to detach the dough from that roller immediatelyafter passing the narrowest part of the opening between the rollers butthe dough will cling to the face of the front roller. The dough on thefront roller, which is in contact with the rotary cutting device, is cutout into circular pieces which are freed from the front roller by thescraper wire 92 arranged under tension and located just before the beltroller 45 and will be deposited on the conveyor belt by gravity. Theuncut dough adheres to the flat rings at each side of the front rollersince wire 92 passes between the rings 99 and roller I8 and thereforedoes not separate the dough from the face of the rings and the adhesionof the dough thereto is sufficient to carry the uncut dough back to thehopper. The front and back walls of the hopper, as will be seen fromFig. 1, are somewhat spaced from the top of the rollers. The tension ofthe stripper wires may be readily adjusted from the exterior of themachine by the mechanism described, while should a wire requirereplacement this can be effected very quickly by removing the doughhopper, releasing the locking thumb screws 84a, 86a, and swinging thefront roller frame forwardly to replace the back roller stripper wire,while the front roller stripper wire may be replaced Without disturbingthe machine. Should any foreign object be caught between the rollers, itcan be immediately released by giving the front of the dough hopper anupward and backward blow which will free it from the upstanding ears ofthe front roller frames which will enable the back roller to drop awayfrom the front roller.

Thumb screws 84a and 350., when screwed inward, bear against the ends ofhorizontal ridges 3e and 36, respectiveiy, to produce a forwarddisplacement of the lower end of the front frame E t, and backwarddisplacement of the upper part of frame 64, by rotating side plates 56and G8 on bearing bosses 26 and 28. By screwing thumb screws S l a and36a inward, front roll F3 mounted in the upper part of frame 6 is madeto bear against the cutter roller I38 and pressure of front roll F8against the cutter roller 5 3:3 be graduated. A necessary spring actionor give between front roll I8 and the cutter roller its is providedbecause force is exerted by the thumb screws on the short arm of alever, represented by the lower ends of side plates 65; and 8S, and theforce is transmitted through the somewhat elastic side frames andapplied at the long end of the lever represented by the distance betweenthe point of contact of the front roll with the cutter roller I as andthe bearing bosses 26 and 28 which act as the fulcrum for this leveraction.

A further effect of tightening thumb screws tea and a is to securelyhold frame 8 3 in operating position upon base side plates ill and :2since the cutter roller prevents movement of the front roller and frontframe in one direction while the 7 thumb screws prevent movement of thefront roller and front frame in the opposite direction.

After use, the machine may be completely taken down by first lif ing thehopper off the machine and then slacking back screws Etto loosen theconveyor belt; the belt arms t, 52 may then be pushed back toward therims ltbringing the vertical slots Zita opposite the supporting lugs 38which permits the arms to be dropped downwardly over the lugs, thusreleasing the arms from the base side plates it, l2. The belt shaft 53may then be removed from the arms by lateral displacement and the shaftwithdrawn from the belt leaving the latter free around the belt roller55. Looking thumb screws 85a, 88a are then slackened back to clearabutments 34a, 38a, whereupon frame 66 may be rotated forward to bringthe gaps in the annular bearings of side plates 58 into line with theslots bearings Si), 32. The gaps in annular bearings :20, i2i of backframe side plates iii}, H2 having been brought into line with the slotsin bearings 3G, 32 after removal of the hopper, the belt roller shaft t;may be lifted out vertically carrying with it the belt roller, the belt,belt roller gear and hand crank. This is the position of the parts shownin full lines in Fig. 4. Frame is then rotated further forward to bringthe annular gaps of frames 58, E38 into line with the radial studs 38%320, and the frame removed intact with front roller and front rollergear by sliding the frame sideways off the bearing bosses 28, 28. fherear roller frame ltd is then similarly removed by rotating it forwardto bring the annular gaps in bearings 52%, iZi into line with the radialstuds Sta, 32c and then sliding the frames sideways off the bearingbosses carrying with them the rear roller rear roller gear. The cutterltil together with its shaft and gear may then be lifted off frames H3,52. All parts of the machine thus become available for washing, cleaningand drying separately.

It is evident that when the cutter alone needs to be removed forreplacement by a different size cutter, this be accomplished withoutcomplete disassembly of the machine by simply slackening back thelocking thur b screws 84c, iiSc to clear abutment-s whereupon frames 64,its may be rotated forward away from the cutter sufficien ly to permitthe cutter shaft to be lifted vertically out of the bearing slots 22 andremoved backward togetller with the attached cutter and cutter gear.

The machine as designed is intended to be used with or without a belt.In the latter case, the belt arms, belt, and belt shaft 3 may bedispensed with.

While I have particularly described illustrated a preferred form ofmachine of my invention, it is to be understood that variousmodifications therein Or changes and rearrangements of parts may made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as intended to be defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming tortillas and the like including: a base havingaligned bearings therein open for a portion of their periphery; a rotarycutter member supported in said bearings; a firs dough roller mountingmeans having a frame removably mounted on said base and a first doughroller mounted in said frame; a second dough roller mounting meanshaving a frame removably mounted on said base and a second dough rollermounted in said second frame and cooperating with the first dough rollerto roll out a sheet of 81 dough and bearing against the cutting elementof the cutter member and retaining the latter in its bearings; a secondpair of aligned bearings in said base; a drive shaft mounted in said.second pair of bearings and retained therein by engagement withsaidsecond frame while the latter is in operative position; means fordriving said cutter member and first and second rolls at predeterminedspeed from said drive shaft and a dough hopper positioned over andbearin against said frames to hold them toward one another, hopper beingfree of attachment to the base and the frames and vertically removablefrom position, removal of the hopper enabling all elements of themachine to be disassembled without the use of tools.

2. A. machine for forming tortillas and the like including: a basehaving aligned bearings therein open for a portion of their periphery; arotary cutter member supported in said bearings; a first dough rollermounting means having a frame removably mounted on said base and a doughroller mounted in said frame; a second dough roll r mounting meanshaving a frame re :iovably mounted on said base and a second doughroller mounted in said second frame and cooperating with the first doughroller to roll out a sheet of dough and bearing against the cuttingelement of the cutter member and retaining the latter in its bearings; asecond pair of aligned bearings in said base; a drive shaft mounted insaid second pair of bearings and retained therein by engagement withsaid second frame while the latter is in operative position; means fordriving said cutter member and first and second rolls at predeterminedspeed from said drive shaft, said shaft being arranged below the firstdough roller; a belt roller secured to said drive shaft; arms projeotingfrom said base; a belt roller counted in the projecting ends of saidarms; an endless con veyor belt running over said belt rollers; and adough hopper positioned over and bearing against said frames to holdthem toward one another, said hopper being free of attachment to the andthe frames and vertically removable from position, removal of the hopperenabling all elements of the machine to be disassembled without the useof tools.

3. A machine for forming tortillas and the like including: a base havingvertical side plates extending in parallel relation, aligned bearingrecesses provided in the top edges of the plates; aligned bearing bossesprojecting laterally from said plates in the same direction, alignedbearing grooves being provided in the upper surfaces of said bosses andbeing open adjacent the top edge of the plates; a rotary cutting elementsupported in the bearing recesses in the top edges of the plates; a backroller frame having spaced side plates; a back roller mounted in saidspaced side plates; annular bearings in said back roller frame sideplates fitting upon the periphery of said bosses; a front roller framehaving spaced side plates; a front roller supported in the front framein operative engagement with the cutting element and being effective toprevent the cutter from leaving its bearings, the back and front rollersco-operating to roll out. a sheet of dough and the cutting elementdividing the sheet of dough while supported on the front roller; annularbearings in the front roller frame side plates fitting on the peripheryof said bosses in side by side relation with the annular bearings of theback frame; a drive shaft mounted below said front roller in the bearinggrooves in the bosses and retained therein by the annular bearings ofthe front and back roller frames, means for rotating said drive shaft;and gearing driven by said shaft to rotate said cutter and rollers; anda dough hopper free from attachment to the base and the roller sideframes engaging over the side frames to hold them in D- erative positionand when removed enabling the machine to be readily disassembled bysliding the annular bearings of the roller frames off the bosses andlifting the cutting member and drive shaft out of their bearings.

4. A machine for forming tortillas and the like including: a base havingvertical side plates extending in parallel relation, aligned bearingrecesses provided in the top edges of the plates; aligned bearing bossesprojecting laterally from said plates in the same direction, alignedbearing grooves being provided in the upper surfaces of said bosses andbeing open adjacent the top edge of the plates; a rotary cutting elementsupported in the bearing recesses in the top edges of the plates; a backroller frame having spaced side plates; a back roller mounted in saidspaced side plates; annular bearings in said back roller frame sideplates fitting upon the periphery of said bosses; a front roller framehaving spaced side plates; a front roller supported in the front framein operative engagement with the cutting element, the back and frontrollers co-operating to roll out a sheet of dough and the cuttingelement dividing the sheet of dough while supported on the front roller;annular bearings in the front roller frame side plates fitting on theperiphery of said bosses in side by side relation with the annularbearings of the back frame; a drive shaft mounted below said frontroller in the bearing grooves in the bosses and retained therein by theannular bearings of the front and back roller frames, a belt rollersecured to and driven by the drive shaft; arms detachably and adjustablymounted on said base; a cylindrical member mounted between theprojecting ends of the arms; an endless conveyor belt riding on saidbelt roller and cylindrical member; means for rotating said drive shaft;gearing driven by said shaft and effective to rotate said cutter androllers; and a dough hopper free from attachment to the base and theroller side frames engaging over the side frames to hold them inoperative position and when removed enabling the machine to bedisassembled by sliding the annular bearings of the roller frame off thebosses and lifting the cutting member and drive shaft out of theirbearings.

5. A machine for forming tortillas and the like including: a base havingvertical side plates eX- tending in parallel relation, aligned bearingrecesses provided in the top edges of the plates; aligned bearing bossesprojecting laterally from said plates in the same direction, alignedbearing grooves being provided in the upper surfaces of said bosses andbeing open adjacent the top edge of the plates; a rotary cutting elementsupported in the bearing recesses in the top edges of the plates; a backroller frame having spaced side plates; a back roller mounted in saidspaced side plates; annular bearings in said back roller frame sideplates fitting upon the periphery of said bosses; a front roller framehaving spaced side plates; a front roller supported in the front framein operative engagement with the cutting element, the back and frontrollers co-operating to roll out a sheet of dough and. the cuttingelement dividing the sheet 10 of dough while supported on the frontroller; annular bearings in the front roller frame side plates fittingon the periphery of said bosses in side by side relation with theannular bearings of the back frame; a drive shaft mounted below saidfront roller in the bearing grooves in the bosses and retained thereinby the annular bearings of the front and back roller frames, a beltroller secured to and driven by the drive shaft, horizontally arrangedprojecting ridges on the side plates of the base; arms slotted at theirinner ends to fit over the forward edge of the side plates and bepositioned on the base sides by said ridges; a cylindrical membermounted between the projecting ends of the arms; an endless conveyorbelt riding on said belt roller and cylindrical member; thumb screwsarranged to move said arms forwardly on the base plates to tension theconveyor belt and to permit said arms to be slacked back to loosen thebelt; means for rotating said drive shaft; gearing driven by said driveshaft and effective to rotate said outter member and rollers in timedrelation; and a dough hopper free from attachment to the base and theroller side frames engaging over the side frames to hold them inoperative position and when removed enabling the machine to bedisassembled.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, and in addition comprising lugsprojecting laterally from the side plates of the base, and channelsprovided in the inner ends of said arms to receive said lugs, wherebysaid arms are detachably secured on said side plates.

7. A machine for forming tortillas and the like, including: a basehaving vertical side plates extending in parallel relation, alignedbearing recesses provided in the top edges of the plates; alignedbearing bosses projecting laterally from said plates in the samedirection, aligned bearing grooves being provided in the upper surfacesof said bosses and opening through the top edge of the plates; a rotarycutting elementsupported in the bearing recesses in the top edges of theplates; a back roller frame having spaced side plates; a back rollermounted in said spaced side plates; annular bearings in said back rollerframe side plates fitting upon the periphery of said bosses; a frontroller frame havin spaced side plates; a front roller supported in thefront frame in operative engagement with the cutting element and beingeffective to prevent the cutter from leaving its bearings, the back andfront rollers co-operating to roll out a sheet of dough and the cuttingelement dividing the sheet of dough while supported on the front roller;an nular bearings in the front roller frame side plates fitting on theperiphery of said bosses in side by side relation with the annularbearings of the back frame; a drive shaft mounted be low said frontroller in the bearing grooves in the bosses and retained therein by theannular bearings of the front and back roller frames; means for rotatingsaid drive shaft; gearing driven by said shaft to rotate said cutter androllers; a dough hopper free from attachment to the base and the rollerside frames engaging over the side frames to hold them in operativeposition and when removed enabling the machine to be readilydisassembled by sliding the annular bearings of the roller frames offthe bosses and lifting the cutting member and drive shaft out of theirbearings; abutments projecting from the side plates of the base; andadjustable members mounted on the front roller frame 11 and engagingagainst said abutments to adjustably limit the rotation of the frontroller frame about the bearing bosses.

8. A machine for forming tortillas and the like, including: a basehaving vertical side plates extending in parallel relation,- alignedbearing recesses provided in the top edges of the plates; alignedbearing bosses projecting laterally from said plates in the samedirection, aligned bearing grooves being provided in the upper surfacesof said bosses and opening through the top edge of the plates; a rotarycutting element supported in the bearing recesses in the top edges ofthe plates; at back roller frame having spaced side plates; at backroller mounted in said spaced side plates; annular bearingsin said backroller frame side plates fitting upon the periphery of said bosses; afront roller frame having spaced side plates; a front roller supportedin the front frame in operative engagement with the cutting element andbeing effective to prevent the cutter from leaving its bearings, theback and front rollers co-operating to roll out a sheet of dough and thecutting'element dividing the sheet of dough while supported on the frontroller; annular bearings in the front roller frame side plates fittingon the periphery of said bosses in side by side relation with theannular bearings of the back frame, the annular bearings of the frontand back roller frames both being provided with a gap 'in the peripherythereof; a radially projecting lug at the outer end of the laterallyprojecting bearing boss holding the frames against axial movementthereon until the gap in said annular bearings is aligned with the lug;a drive shaft mounted below said front roller in the bearing grooves inthe bosses and retained therein by the annular bearings of the front andback roller frames; means for rotating said drive shaft; gearing drivenby saidsha'ft per free from attachment to the base and the roller sideframes engaging over the side frames to hold them in operative positionand when removed enabling the machine to be readily disassembled bysliding the annular bearings of the roller frames off the bosses andlifting the to rotate said cutter and rollers; a dough hopcutting memberand drive shaft out of their bearings; abutments projecting from theside plates of the base; and-adjustable members mounted on the frontroller frame and engaging against abutments to adjustably limit therotation of the front roller frame about the bearing bosses.

9. A machine for forming tortillas and the like, including: a basehaving aligned bearings therein open for a portion of their periphery; arotary cutter member supported in said bearings; a first dough rollermounting means having a frame removably mounted on said base and a firstdough roller mounted in said frame; a second dough roller mounting meanshaving a frame removably mounted on-said base and a second dough rollermounted in said second frame and cooperating with the first dough rollerto roll out a sheet of dough and bearing against the cutting element ofthe cutter member and retaining the latter in its bearings; a secondpair of aligned bearings in said base; a drive shaft mounted in saidsecond pair of bearings and retained therein by engagement with saidsecond frame While the latter is in operative position; means fordrivingsaid cutter member and first and second rolls at predetermined speedfrom said drive shaft; upward extensions of said front and back rollerframes; a dough hopper free from attachment to thebase and the rollerframes positioned over said extensions and supported on said rollers;and adjustable means mounted on said hopper and engaging against theupward extension of one of said frames whereby the spacing of therollers from one another may be adjusted and the hopper may be liftedoff the frames to release the frames with the rollers mounted therein,the cutter member, and the drive shaft, from the base without the use oftools.

ARMANDO J. PEREYRA.

mber,

; was 1,763,445

